UNI eager to start 2010 football after heartbreaking 2009

CEDAR FALLS (AP) - Northern Iowa's most memorable games last season were the ones they didn't win.

The Panthers took Big Ten power Iowa to the brink in the season opener, only to have their hearts broken when the Hawkeyes blocked two field goals in the final moments. Northern Iowa then finished 2009 with a devastating 22-20 loss at Illinois State and missed the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs.

The Panthers broke for fall camp last week eager to put last season behind them. That shouldn't be tough to do, since they have just nine starters back, including three on offense. But the Panthers have built a reputation for reloading quickly, and they've been picked to finish fourth in the Missouri Valley Football conference.